MONTPELIER - The Vermont Department of Labor is warning about a nationwide identity theft scam that attempts to lure employers into providing confidential information about their employees.

Emails have been sent to businesses in at least 10 states, including New York and Massachusetts.

The DOL said it has not yet received reports of the scam in Vermont.

According to DOL, the scam is designed to trick employers into responding to an email that appears to have been sent from a state's "Division of Unemployment Assistance."

The email looks like a legitimate job separation request used by state agencies. The email requests wage and other information on a former employee filing for unemployment benefits. It then directs the employer to click on a link to an embedded website address in South Africa.

Employers are advised that DOL does not use email to request confidential information, nor does the agency attempt to collect information on behalf of other state's unemployment agencies.

Any employer receiving this email or other correspondence that may not be legitimate, should call the Vermont Department of Labor 828-4254.